The fishing town of Petersburg is nestled into the sheltered northern edge of Mitkof Island near the junction of a narrow channel known as Wrangell Narrows and the broader reaches of Frederick Sound. This island is just over 200 square miles, and is blanketed with two major ecosystems that are widespread in Southeast Alaska, the temperate rain forest and muskeg, or peat bog. Our day’s activities focused around this fascinating place, first with a morning hike along the Three Lakes Trail from Ideal Cove, and then with time in Petersburg for the entire afternoon. Aerobic hikers strode briskly along a lakeshore trail that wound through majestic forest and meadow-like landscapes. Others spent more time along the route to enjoy the multi-layered canopy of spruces and hemlocks, and the lush understory dotted with brightly colored bunchberries, blueberries, huckleberries, and highbush cranberries (pictured). Another option was to see the shoreline by boat, skirting the rocky intertidal area to see crab pots used for Dungeness crabs and find a kingfisher surveying its domain.
In Petersburg everyone scattered in different directions for all sorts of activities. Guided walks to a muskeg on Kupreanof Island led into a fairyland of sodden moss and stunted trees. Other naturalists led groups along the docks to see the fishing fleet, and the Photo Instructor provided tips on a different outing. Fishermen tended their nets (see photo), and the harbor was bustling with the coming and going of boats. Flightseeing was a highlight for those who flew over the LeConte Glacier, the southernmost tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. In addition, there was the chance to ride bikes or investigate the streets and stores of the town.
During cocktail hour, our undersea specialist shared some intriguing video footage from yesterday’s dive at William’s Cove, and then it was time for a scrumptious dinner of local Dungeness crab and yummy ribs. Just after dessert the ship slowed noticeably, a signal that something had been sighted. A humpback whale surfaced a short distance away in the dwindling evening light and even breached. What a wonderful finale to our day!
